Massage implement.



W. SOUKUP. MASSAGE IMPLEMENT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9,1914.

1,098,337. Patented May 26, 1914.

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WENZL soUKUr, or cAaLsBAij, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

MASSAGE IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed March 9, 1914. Serial No. 823,476.

improved massage implement provided with a handle, whose fulcrumed hammers are actuated either by hand or by a motor by means of a shaft provided with two broad cranks displaced relatively to one another. The inner ends of the hammers are constantly held by springs in contact with the cranks of the driving shaft, and the outer or free ends are provided with rubber balls, rubber rings or the like, and the hammers can be adjusted laterally relatively to one another, whereby the massage implement is rendered suitable for employment for massaging variously shaped parts of the human body, for example when placed wide apart,

for massaging the back at both sides of thespine, and when placed close together for massaging the muscles of the fingers.

Owing to the hammers not being connected positively with the driving shaft the implement can be stopped at once by pressing the outer ends of the hammers provided with rubber balls or the like so severely against the part of the human body to betreated that the motion of the shaft is not imparted to the hammers.

Two embodiments of my invention are represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal section, and top plan view partly in horizontal section, respectively, of one form of my improved massage implement in which the driving shaft is driven by an electric motor accommodated in the frame, and Figs. 3 and 4 are like views, respectively, of another form in which an intermediate shaft adapted to be connected to a flexible shaft is arranged in the axial bore of the handle.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the frame 1 carries a handle 2 having a bore 3 through which an electric cable 4 is passed. A pressbutton 5 is provided on the handle for switching into and out of circuit the electric motor 6 provided in the frame. A gearwheel 7 is fastened on the shaft of the motor and meshes with the gear-wheel 8 fastened on the crank-shaft 9 having two cranks 10 and 11 displaced 180 relatively to one another, against which bear the ends 12 and '13 of the hammers 14 and 15 formed like tail-hammers under the influence of springs 16 and 17. The hammers 14 and 15 are mounted to rock on the axle 18 by means of their eyelets 19 and 20. The axle 18 is journaled in the frame 1 and is provided with a right-handed thread 21 and a lefthanded thread 22, the eyelets 19 and 20 being provided with corresponding female threads. The hammers l4 and 15 can be shifted parallel to one another by means of the milled grip 23 which is fast on the axle 18 and is provided with a locking device 24 for preventing the axle 18 being unintentionally rotated. Mounted on the outer free ends of the hammers 14 and 15 are sockets 25 and 26 for carrying small rubber balls 27. The frame 1 is surrounded by a protective casing 29 provided with a folding lid 31 normally held closed by a spring 30.

The implement is operated by pressing the button 5, whereby the electric motor 6 is connected into circuit and rapidly rotates the crank-shaft 9 by means of the spur-gears 7 and 8. The inner ends of the hammers 12,

13, which may be provided with exchangeable plates 32, 33 for protection from too great wear, are pressed by means of the springs 16 and 17 against the cranks 10 and 11 and are alternately depressed by the latter and lifted by the springs 16 and 17. The hammers 14 and 15 are consequently rapidly vibrated and their beating action can be imparted by means of the rubber balls 27 and 28 to the human body. By turning the axle 18 by means of the grip 23 the hammers can be placed farther apart for massaging the back at the two sides of the spine for example, or closer together for massaging the 'finger muscles for example.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the frame 34 is provided with a handle 35 in whose bore 36 is a short shaft 37 which is provided with a coupling 38, known in itself, for a flexible shaft. The short shaft 37 is connected by intermediate gearing 39, 40 with the shaft 41 which is provided with two broad cranks 42, 43 displaced 180 relatively to one another, against which the ends 44, 45 of the hammers 46, 47 bear and are constantly held in this position by means of springs 48. The hammers 46, 47 are mounted to rock on a shaft 49 provided with a right-handed and a left-handed thread, as clearly shown. By turning the shaft 49 by means of the milled grip 50 the levers 46, 47 can be shifted laterally, whereby the implement is adjusted in the manner described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The free ends of the hammers 46 and 47 are provided with rubber rings 51 or with similar means.

I claim 1. In a massage implement, the combination with a frame, a shaft having a plurality of cranks displaced relatively to one another, and means for driving said shaft, of a plurality of hammers laterally adjustably mounted to rock in the frame, and springs each tending to press one end of a hammer against one of said cranks.

2. A massage implement comprising a supporting frame, a pair of vibratory hammers mounted in the frame and bodily adjustable toward or from each other, and means for vibrating the hammers.

3. A massage implement comprising a supporting frame, a pair of parallel hammers mounted in the frame, means for varying at will the distance separating the hammers, and means for vibrating the hammers.

4. A massage implement comprising a supporting frame, a pair of parallel hammers mounted in the frame, means for simultaneously moving the hammers bodily toward or from each other, and means for vibrating the hammers.

5. A massage implement comprising a supporting frame, a pair of vibratory hammers mounted in the frame, a shaft mounted in the frame, and adapted as it is rotated to alternately rock the hammers in one direction, resilient means connecting the frame and hammers to move the latter in opposition to the shaft, means for effecting relative movement between the hammers and shaft in the direction of the length of the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VVENZL SOUKUP.

Witnesses Josnr SCHULTZ, A. SCHMIDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

